Bathroom of the Week: An Updated Take on Traditional
A designer combines timeless materials with contemporary elements in a New York master bath
Before: The old bathroom was in rough shape and didn’t feel the least bit Victorian in style.
A dark and cramped shower stall made the homeowners yearn for the spa-like feel of an open shower. They weren’t interested in having a bathtub in the 60-square-foot space, which opened up the possibilities.
A dark and cramped shower stall made the homeowners yearn for the spa-like feel of an open shower. They weren’t interested in having a bathtub in the 60-square-foot space, which opened up the possibilities.
In the new bathroom, timeless materials like marble (floor, curb, walls, pencil trim, countertop) and antiqued brass (faucets, shower fixtures, sconces, accessories), along with the traditional mirror, suit the period home’s architecture. But more contemporary touches like the geometric pattern on the floor, the oversize 6-by-12-inch subway tiles and the glass shower panel lend an updated look.
“The faucet, sconces and shower fixtures are special, and we wanted them to stand out. So we kept everything else clean and simple,” Viola says. She painted the walls and the vanity in Benjamin Moore’s Silver Chain, a soft gray. “We wanted to keep the grays very cohesive so the bathroom felt calm and the antique brass fixtures would really pop,” she says.
Kenitra mirror: Uttermost; Thomas O’Brien’s Bryant sconces in hand-rubbed antique brass: Visual Comfort
“The faucet, sconces and shower fixtures are special, and we wanted them to stand out. So we kept everything else clean and simple,” Viola says. She painted the walls and the vanity in Benjamin Moore’s Silver Chain, a soft gray. “We wanted to keep the grays very cohesive so the bathroom felt calm and the antique brass fixtures would really pop,” she says.
Kenitra mirror: Uttermost; Thomas O’Brien’s Bryant sconces in hand-rubbed antique brass: Visual Comfort
Originally the homeowners wanted a shower that was open to the rest of the room, but that proved impractical. “Because of where we needed to place the vanity, we were afraid splashing water would damage it,” Viola says. To give them the spa-like feeling of a wet room, she installed a clear glass divider and a marble curb to protect the floor.
Extending the same tile from the bathroom floor onto the shower floor also contributes to the open wet-room look. The tile is classic marble composed in a modern geometric pattern.
Tip: “We like to hide the floor vent within the toe kick of a vanity whenever we can. That way it doesn’t break up the floor tile,” Viola says.
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
Extending the same tile from the bathroom floor onto the shower floor also contributes to the open wet-room look. The tile is classic marble composed in a modern geometric pattern.
Tip: “We like to hide the floor vent within the toe kick of a vanity whenever we can. That way it doesn’t break up the floor tile,” Viola says.
Browse vanities in the Houzz Shop
This vintage-style antiqued brass shower fixture from The Rubinet Faucet Co. was worth the splurge to the clients and is the star of the stall. Accordingly, Viola kept the shower tiles and niche simple to complement the faucet rather than detract from it.
Shop for brass shower fixtures
Shop for brass shower fixtures
The vanity provided some savings. “We custom-made the vanity in our own mill shop, but I specified a standard stock size [36 by 20 inches] so that we could top it with a stock countertop,” Viola says. (The sink came with the stock countertop.) “Cutting a custom slab would have cost twice as much.”
She also saved money by finding a relatively inexpensive sink faucet to match the shower fixture’s silhouette and finish.
Takeaways
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She also saved money by finding a relatively inexpensive sink faucet to match the shower fixture’s silhouette and finish.
Takeaways
- Consider your home’s architectural style when designing a room. Materials, finishes and silhouettes can tie the room to the rest of the house.
- Update classic subway tile with unexpected dimensions instead of standard 3 by 6 inches.
- Let clean lines and a subdued color scheme put the focus on special elements.
- Make a bathroom feel larger by using a clear glass shower enclosure and extending the floor tile into the shower.
- Hide the floor vent in a vanity toe kick.
Read other stories about bathroom design
Find a bathroom remodeler
Shop for your bathroom project
Bathroom at a Glance
Who uses it: A young couple
Location: Nyack, New York
Size: 60 square feet (5.6 square meters)
Designer: Nicole Viola of Ivory & Oak
An updated take on traditional style balances classic materials and contemporary lines in this master bathroom. “The house is Victorian, so the young couple who live here wanted us to honor the architecture in the bathroom’s design. But they also wanted it to feel young, luxurious, upscale and special,” says designer Nicole Viola of Ivory & Oak. Her design-build firm handled the full remodel, from the design through the construction, with the goal of creating a timeless design.
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